Some Americans might get $1,500 to cover health bills. Who qualifies?

Senate Republicans want to give Americans up to $1,500 to cover health expenses rather than extending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that have lowered health insurance costs for millions of Americans.

Republican Sens. Mike Crapo and Bill Cassidy on Dec. 8 unveiled a bill that would deposit $1,000 to $1,500 into health savings accounts for eligible consumers. This money would be in lieu of extending COVID-19-era enhanced tax credits that sharply reduced health premiums under the Affordable Care Act, often called "Obamacare."

The Senate will vote Thursday, Dec. 11, on the Crapo-Cassidy bill, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said. The Senate will also vote Thursday on Democrats' proposal to extend the ACA's expiring enhanced premium tax credits for three years.

Under the Crapo-Cassidy legislation, the federal government would deposit $1,000 into a health savings account for consumers ages 18 to 49 or $1,500 for consumers ages 50 to 64.

The payment would be limited to people who earn up to 700% of the federal poverty level − $109,550 for an individual or $225,050 for a family of four in 2025.